Creating A Strong Thesis
•Creating a sustained
thesis for a stronger
paper.
Probably the most daunting task for any
writer is to generate an effective thesis
statement. In college, academic writing
follows a specific pattern— after a brief
opening, you state your position in one
clear sentence.
Why do you need a thesis?
• It gives your essay a sense of purpose
• It narrows your subject
• It previews the order or arrangement of
your argument
• It excludes points you will not be
covering
• It shows the focus of the essay for the
reader
What is the difference
between a subject and thesis?
Subject-general
•Student loans
•Crime
•AIDS
Thesis-specific
•Ohio should lower the
interest rate on student
loans.
•Crime can be diverted by
instituting job, education
and mentoring programs.
•AIDS can be fought with
more education and
funding.
How do I go from a subject-> thesis?
• First ask what your position is. By
answering this question, you will
establish a thesis that demonstrates the
focus or main point of your essay.
• Once you have an idea of what you hold
to be true, write it down but then delete
the phrase “I believe”
For example
• I believe that Kurt Cobain is an amazing
song writer.
• Becomes:
Kurt Cobain is an amazing song writer.
But there is still something missing…
Is my statement significant?
• Kurt Cobain is an amazing song writer.
• A few questions that arise:
•
•
•
•
What is the criteria for this statement?
Why is he amazing?
What time frame is being used?
Who thinks he is amazing: poets,musicians
or political activists?
• What is important about this topic?
A more significant statement
• Kurt Cobain’s lyrics, variety of sounds,
and scope of social issues make him
one of the most influential musicians of
all time.
• Topic- Kurt Cobain’s music
• Mapping of essay topics, criteria or
focus
• The opinion or your position
Whether your essay is explanatory or
argumentative, a strong thesis statement will
provide the map, guiding the entire essay.
Confusion arises, however, over the difference
between a purpose statement and a thesis.
What is the function of a purpose
statement?
•
It announces the purpose, scope and
direction of the paper.
• It makes a promise to the reader about
the development of the argument
Sample purpose statement
• This paper will examine the
ecological damage caused by Katrina
on the Gulf Coast. The focus will be
on the economic, political and social
relationships affected by the
environmental problems.
What are the characteristics of a good
thesis statement?
• It answers a specific question.
• It is narrow or broad enough to be
covered within the assignment
parameters.
• It focuses on one main idea.
• It is controversial enough that a
reasonable person could disagree.
How do I generate a good thesis
statement?
• Read your sources looking for connections.
• Once you have analyzed your evidence, you will
have a main idea or a working thesis.
• Like using a funnel, begin with a general subject,
narrow it by the purpose, and end with a specific
assertion, claim, or thesis.
Sample thesis statement
The ecological damage produced by
Katrina on the Gulf Coast was
caused by the political and social
environment of the region.
How do I generate a thesis if the topic is
assigned?
• Any assignment can be narrowed down to a
single question.
• First select the focal question that your essay
will answer. If the assignment is a request for
information, such as “Write a report on the
benefits of expanding the Marina District in
Downtown Toledo,” start by turning the request
into a question— “What are the benefits of
building the Marina District in Downtown
Toledo?”
How do I generate a thesis if the topic is
not assigned?
• Even if a specific question has not been
posed by your instructor, you will need to
create a question about the issue you plan
to investigate. It is best if you first establish
your subject; next, consider the purpose of
the essay. From this point you should be
able to ask a question about the topic to
then state a position or thesis.
Brainstorm the topic
• What are your concerns? What
concerns are facing your field of
study?
• For example, you are in construction
and you are concerned with the slow
recovery in New Orleans after Katrina.
You begin the thought process like
this:
• Because a majority of the damage
caused by Katrina was due to
inadequate construction, the federal
government needs to establish more
stringent building codes before
financing reconstruction.
This is not a thesis; it is the start of a thesis. This is a
general subject from which you could take your paper
in many directions. Perhaps from your research you
have found that there were oversights in the codes
for homes constructed in hurricane and flood zones.
While everyone will agree that rebuilding flimsy
homes is a bad idea, narrowing your topic to who
should make the reform and what specific types are
needed will assert your position.
Test your thesis
1.Does it take a stand and capture the
subject?
2.Does it invite discussion and avoid a
simple response?
3.Is it specific to your paper?
4.Is your claim significant?
5.Are the words and phrases unified on
a single idea?
Test the sample thesis
• Because a majority of the damage
caused by Katrina was due to
inadequate construction, the federal
government needs to establish more
stringent building codes before
financing reconstruction.
1. Does it take a stand?
• Yes, the damage was due to
inadequate construction and the
federal government needs to step in.
2. Does it invite discussion?
Yes, some reasonable people
may feel that it is not the
government’s responsibility to
enforce codes and that no
building could withstand the force
of Katrina.
3. Is the thesis specific?
Yes, it focuses on the aftermath of
one storm and the steps to be taken
before more federal funds should be
used.
4. Is the claim significant?
• Yes, rebuilding still needs to take
place.
5. Are the words focused on a single idea?
• Yes, not all issues are being
addressed, just one aspect of a
condition for rebuilding. Yet the thesis
is still broad enough to allow the paper
to explore examples of the types of
destruction, building codes, and
financial needs facing those
devastated by Katrina.